No. 3 Long Beach State Sweeps No. 8 UCSB In Dominant Pyramid Performance

Friday, April 10

Long Beach, Calif.

7 p.m.

Long Beach State University

19-4,5-2Big West

UC Santa Barbara

13-10,4-4Big West

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UC Santa Barbara	20	19	20	0
Long Beach St.	25	25	25	3

No. 3 Long Beach State Sweeps No. 8 UCSB In Dominant Pyramid Performance

4/10/2026 10:00:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

Balanced attack, suffocating block, and clutch serving power the Beach in a statement straight-set win inside the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid

By: Chelsea Pfohl, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- No. 3 Long Beach State delivered a complete, wire-to-wire performance in a straight-sets win over No. 8 UC Santa Barbara, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20, inside a charged LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid. From the opening whistle, the Beach dictated tempo with clean execution, relentless serving pressure, and a decisive edge at the net, finishing the match hitting .304 while holding UCSB to .092.

The environment matched the moment. The Pyramid had an edge to it early, and LBSU fed off that energy with a sharp, disciplined start that immediately put UCSB on their heels.

The opening phase of the match was defined by control and composure. After falling behind 0-2, LBSU settled in quickly, sparked by a long rally that ended with a highlight-level defensive play from Skyler Varga, whose bicycle kick save kept the rally alive and swung momentum. That sequence set the tone for the entire night. From there, LBSU began to separate through system volleyball. Daniil Hershtynovich terminated in transition to push the lead to 5-3, and the offense found rhythm with Island Doty distributing efficiently.

The first major momentum swing came at 9-5 when a triple block by Jackson Cryst, Island Doty, and Varga shut down UCSB and ignited the crowd. That sequence reflected a broader theme as LBSU's block consistently disrupted UCSB's out-of-system swings. LBSU finished with 11.0 team blocks compared to just 3.5 for the Gauchos.

Midway through the set, Ben Braun and Hershtynovich combined for another key stuff at 13-8, extending the gap and forcing UCSB into predictable offensive patterns. The Beach continued to capitalize in transition, with Wojciech Gajek's tip kill at 16-11 and a Varga blast pushing the lead to 17-11. Even when UCSB strung together points late, service errors repeatedly stalled their runs, a critical factor that prevented any sustained pressure. LBSU closed the set cleanly behind Braun and Varga, hitting .300 in the frame.

The second set followed a similar script but with even greater control from the Beach. LBSU's sideout efficiency remained high at 80 percent, allowing them to maintain separation without needing extended runs. Hershtynovich's early kill at 5-3 reinforced offensive balance, while Varga continued to be a primary terminal option, finishing the match with a team-high 12 kills on .280 hitting.

The decisive stretch came late in the set. Leading 19-13, LBSU delivered one of the most emphatic sequences of the match as Braun and Varga combined for a massive block that effectively ended the set competitively. From there, the Beach methodically finished, again limiting errors and forcing UCSB into low-percentage swings.

The third set presented the only real push from UCSB, but even then, LBSU maintained control of the match flow. After trading points early, the Beach created separation through serving pressure. Braun's ace at 15-10 triggered a decisive run, followed immediately by another ace that stretched the lead to 17-10 and forced a UCSB timeout.

UCSB made one final push, cutting the deficit to 20-19 after capitalizing on a few LBSU errors. At 22-19, Cryst delivered a clutch, high-velocity ace that restored control and shifted momentum back decisively. Braun followed with a terminal swing at 24-20, and Varga sealed the match with authority.

Statistically, LBSU dominated every major category. The Beach out-hit UCSB .304 to .092, controlled the net with 11.0 blocks to 3.5, and generated more efficient offense across all three sets. Five players recorded multiple kills and three hitters posted hitting percentages above .300, including Cryst hitting .333, while Braun and Gajek were both at .375.

Equally important was ball control. LBSU posted a .955 reception percentage and consistently ran in-system offense, allowing Doty and Pazanit to distribute at a high level with a 34 total assists for the Beach and a .430 team setting percentage. Kellen Larson anchored the backcourt with elite serve receive and defensive range, finishing with 11 digs and consistently delivering clean passes that kept the Beach offense in system. On the other side, UCSB struggled to generate rhythm, hitting below .200 in every set and falling under .100 in the first two.

Long Beach State combined to put on a show inside the Pyramid, creating a one-sided, high-level win over a top-10 opponent, reinforcing their standing as a national title contender.